Disclaimer; I do not own Twilight.

Thanks to 'SPOONS Secret Agent Alice' for being my beta

I'd like to thank those of you who reviewed last chapter, 5 reviews has been the most I've had for a chapter so far, so thanks. Maybe make my day and do it again?

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I'd left a now happy Alice with a besotted Jasper while I went and bought Alice some new shoes. Well she gave me the money and the broken shoe so I could get the exact same shoe, apparently it went great with over three outfits, which in Alice speak meant it was a keeper. After getting a few odd glances from the shop assistant I'd finally managed to get the right size shoe and after making a quick pit stop into Thornton's to buy some apology chocolate, I was making my way back to the happy couple when an idea hit me. I rooted around in my bag to find the camera Sue gave us. I peeked around the corner to see Alice lying on the bench, holding herself up with her elbows while Jasper was massaging her foot, looking lovingly at her while he did. Jeez she already had this boy whipped and it's been about what, ten minutes? That girl sure does work fast.

I snapped a few pictures of them and was admiring my handiwork when I saw a few pictures I hadn't taken. Alice must have taken them this morning, there were a few of me stumbling and holding onto various railings, and then I saw one which made my heart flutter, Alice must have taken it when she was off buying ice cream. It was me with that awful blindfold on sitting with my legs crossed grinning at Edward while he was looking at our hands in my lap, a small smile playing on his lips. I couldn't stop the smile that had made its way to my face; I'm definitely printing that one off.

After making my way to the two lovebirds we said our goodbyes to Jasper, it seems he and Alice had already switched numbers and then made our way back to college. Sue was a little concerned over Alice's ankle, but Alice assured her she'd have Carlisle look at it as soon as she got home. When Sue finally excused us after asking multiple questions over how we found our experiences today, Alice had to go meet her sister who was giving her a lift home. I walked into the canteen, noticing it was already 4pm, I pulled out a battered copy of Wuthering heights to read while I waited for Mike to finish his lesson at half 4 so he could drive me home.

"Not Wuthering heights again Bella, aren't you bored of that yet?"

I looked up to see Mike giving me his classic smile which was meant to make me swoon and confess my undying love for him, but when looking at him I could only compare it to Edward's, and Mike paled in comparison.

"You ready to go Bella? I was thinking we could stop by at a nice restaurant or something." Mike trailed off hopefully.

"I'm a little skint at the moment Mike; maybe we could stop off at McDonalds? It's only down the road." I said, remembering I've got to pay my rent at the end of the week.

"Oh, I was thinking of a place a little more, you know, date worthy and don't worry, I'll pay." he said, still sounding hopeful.

It was then that it actually dawned on me that it wasn't just a casual meal among friends, he actually wanted a date. There was only a certain amount of times you can blow someone off politely; I'm running out of excuses and pleasantries.

"Look Mike, we've talked about this, I..." I started, but Mike cut me off.

"Forget I said anything, but let's go to McDonalds and I'll just pay for you anyway, for being well, you know." he said apologetically. He obviously remembers the talks we've had and how I've warned him off with being too persistent.

After a surprisingly nice meal with Mike he'd dropped me off at home. Mike can actually be a really nice, funny guy when he's not constantly trying to woo me. Finding myself with nothing to do, I tried to occupy myself with some household chores I'd neglected to do, but unfortunately they only occupied my hands and not my mind. All I could think of was Edward's smile, his voice, his hands when they were entwined with mine. I was turning into one of those obsessive school girls; I really had to stop myself before I got in way over my head. A ringing noise interrupted my thoughts; I wiped my hands on a dishcloth and dashed over to my college bag to root out my mobile.

"Hello." I said slightly out of breath.

"Why hello love, did I interrupt something?" asked that velvet voice I've been thinking of so much.

"Hey Edward, no I was just washing up and had to run to find my phone, what's up?" I asked.

"Nothing, can't friends ring one another when they want to?" He replied. I felt my heart drop at the word 'friends'.

"Sure they can, how's Alice?" I tried to reply coolly, changing they subject away from us only being 'friends'.

"Alice? You saw her last, you tell me." he replied confused.

"Oh, I thought she'd of told you about her foot or you'd have at least seen her limping, she was getting your dad to look at it." I replied.

"I don't live at home with them, what did she do?" he asked.

"She saw a sale and got a little too excited and ended up getting her heel stuck in a drain... wait you don't live at home? I thought you did?" I replied, excited to know a little more about him.

"Typical Alice, maybe one day she'll learn you're not supposed to wear heels to college. And no I don't, I moved out three years ago. Esme and Carlisle don't like us being too dependent on them so they advise we move out when we hit eighteen."

"Advise?" I asked.

"Yeah, they don't make us move out, they more suggest we do, to keep a level head on our shoulders. Alice is looking for a place to live now, but it's difficult. Wherever we pick has to be mum approved first."

"Mum approved?" I chuckled.

"Yeah it's not funny, it took me ages to find a place mum considered suitable and safe, and it's going to be ten times worse for Alice." he said

I considered asking him where he lived, I mean, he does consider us to be friends, but then again I might sound like a bit of a stalker.

"That sucks, my parents just let me move out, no questions asked." I replied casually, knowing that even if I did work up the courage to ask, the time had passed.

"Lucky for some, eh? How was your day anyway?" he asked.

"Well, it started out rather dull, but then I met a really friendly energetic girl with an equally amazing handsome brother, and I had a great time spending lunch with them, what about you?" I asked, blushing when I realised I'd unintentionally called him handsome, I was very thankful he couldn't see.

"Oh really, My day also started out rather dull, but a text from my sister telling me to have lunch with her also got me a lunch date with a very beautiful brunette girl. You wouldn't happen to know her would you?" he said playfully.

"Oh, I might have an idea, she wasn't blindfolded for the first 20 odd minutes was she?" I said, still blushing but being able to sound much more confident over the phone.

"There's a chance she was, she did look very cute though, especially when she bit her lip." he said.

I nearly had a heart attack right there, but I remembered that he couldn't see me and I had to show him I wasn't total social reject.

"Well, I reckon she felt pretty damn stupid with it on, especially when she had to be fed ice cream."

"Yeah the 'handsome brother' didn't fair to well in that task either." he laughed.

Conversation went on like this, now and then he'd make a joke over me trying to balance my phone on my shoulder while washing up or doing some other domestic task. Until I was rooting through my bag and I came across the camera Sue had given us, I'd forgotten to hand it in to her before. Still talking to Edward about watching fun house as kids, I stealthily turned on my computer and plugged in the camera. I flicked through the awful ones of me until I came across the ones I was looking for, my heart sped up when I looked at Edward and hearing his velvety voice on the phone was making it that much more sweeter.

"And do you remember the go karts? I always thought I could kick their asses at that, they always seemed to go so slow, and sometimes when they missed those little tag things, god I wanted to reach in there and… hey you still there?" Edward asked.

"Oh yeah, I'm here sorry I just got distracted by erm some kids, I was looking out the window... anyway so yeah those go karts." I said, hoping he wouldn't catch me out.

"Kids? Their out a little late aren't they? How old are they?" He asked, sounding concerned.

"Jeez Edward I don't actually know them." I said, wondering why he had to make lying to him so hard.

"Well it's getting on, their parents should keep better control over them, and they wonder why there's gangs, talk about bad parenting skills, do you realise what time it is?" He said.

It was the first time since he'd phoned that I looked at the clock, I was surprised to see it was nearly midnight, we must have been on the phone for about two hours.

"I've just realised the time actually and I better be going to bed, I've got to be up bright and early tomorrow for college, Mike will have a fit if I'm late cause he won't get a parking space." I laughed at some of the memories of Mike and I having to park far away and having to trek through the rain and hail, resulting in us looking like drown rats before college even starts, although Mike never stays too angry at me.

"Mike? Who's Mike?" he asked.

Is it just me or is Edward sounding a little jealous? I smiled in spite of knowing it shouldn't make me happy, but it's cute that he's getting jealous of Mike Newton of all people.

"He's just a guy that drives me to college, it's much better than having to take the bus, especially in the morning when it's packed with kids." I replied casually, eager to hear what he'd say next.

"Oh, okay well, he is just a friend, isn't he?" he asked.

"Yep Edward, just a friend, and will be a very angry friend if I don't go to bed soon." I said.

"Sure, sorry, goodnight Bella, sweet dreams." He said.

"Goodnight, Edward."

I looked back at the computer screen and decided to print the picture off. While it was printing I walked into the kitchen to make myself a glass of orange juice for bed, walking back through the living room I picked up the picture of me and Edward, admiring it as I walked to my room. I rooted out a frame that was under the bed, once I found a nice one I put the picture in it and put it on my nightstand. It might be weird and stalkerish, but there's no way he'll ever know. I changed into my PJ's and got into bed, images of Edward flooding my mind while I went to sleep.

Sleep must have come since the next thing I knew I was waking up to my awful alarm clock, I swatted it across the room and that thankfully shut it up. I was about to curse everyone and everything in sight until I saw the picture on my nightstand. That immediately lightened my mood as I practically skipped to the bathroom, but not so I'd trip, even Edward's beautiful face couldn't make that better. I looked into the mirror and saw a goofy smile plastered on my face, God I really have to stop obsessing over him so much.

I went through the rest of the motions of getting ready and just as I was running my fingers through my hair I heard my buzzer. Shit, I'm going to have to leave my hair wavy today. I grabbed my bag and keys and dashed out the door, not even bothering to reply to Mike.

The journey to college was quiet, both Mike and I were a little tired and just happily sat listening to the radio for the most part. Since I wasn't too late we managed to get a parking space quite easily so Tyler didn't have to wait too long before we went through our breakfast routine, of course we received the usual glares on our way.

Before long it was time for lesson and I was immediately greeted by a chirpy Alice who was sat at my table, I'd love to know how she can be so happy in the mornings, she must drink a lot of caffeine.

"Hey Alice," I greeted her with as much enthusiasm as I could muster.

"Heya Bella, tired?" she asked.

"Yeah a little, I went to bed a bit late." I replied.

"Have a nice conversation with my brother?" She asked knowingly.

"I, erm, yeah I did actually, how did you know?" I replied confused. Edward said she seems to know things but that's just ridiculous.

"I tried calling you but you were engaged, so I tried phoning Edward and funnily enough he was engaged too, so I put two and two together. I kept calling back every twenty minutes or so though, you two we're at it all night." She said.

I grinned sheepishly at that, although the last part made me blush.

"Yeah I didn't quite realise the time, he's so easy to talk to." I admitted, hoping she wouldn't tell him whatever I accidentally let slip about him. Either way she just grinned at me, but we both decided to end the conversation there since Sue just walked in.

"Right, quiet down, quiet down, today's the last day I can keep you without your over lecturers throwing a fit so we've got to fit a lot into today. This morning I want you to take it in turns with these ear plugs, it's simple, from 9 until half 10 one of you will wear them and then from half 10 till 12 your partner will wear them." Sue said.

It was then that Alice leaned in quickly and said "not it" in my ear that I inwardly cursed her, and made a vow to myself that I will get her after lunch.

"Now, whoever is first come pick up your ear plugs and see how you adjust to walking around college without your hearing, good luck, I don't want any accidents today." and with that she gave a pointed glance at Alice and I before motioning to the ear plugs on her desk.

I grudgingly got up and walked towards her desk, picking up some tan coloured ear plugs and walking back to Alice. At least these are more inconspicuous than the horrible pink blindfold I had to wear yesterday. As I exited the classroom with Alice, I just knew that this wasn't going to be good.

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I'm not going to be online much because I have exams till the 16th, so I won't be able to update very often. Although I already have the next chapter typed up so if I get a lot of reviews then I'll put it up on Wednesday or Thursday. Also, I introduce some familiar characters in the next chapter, so there's some more incentive to review.